5/5 THIS..is the DVD you need to buy
  by William C. Ajello (Highlands, NJ - Gateway to the shore)
This is the Dark Sky version of SLAUGHTER OF THE VAMPIRES that we have been raving about, by all means, stay away from the Retromedia DVD version of this film, they did a crap job editing it and you will just throw your money away.

They did a brilliant editing job with this version.....Graziella Granata does her titular jog in massive splendor in this version and SHE DOES save this film, there is no doubt in my mind but there is also something about this film that just makes it a joy to watch, I dunno what it is. Besides watching Graziella's beauty and elequence. This movie isn't like all the other italian vampire movies I've seen, it's better than the rest, yet, it's not exactly brilliant so I've dubbed this movie "THE GONE WITH THE WIND" of Bad B Vampire movies.

Umm I do reccomend it to any old horror film buffs out there.

3/5 "Slaughter" indeed
  by Vorthog (Ontario, Canada)
I really didn't know what to expect when I ordered this, as I had not really seen much Eurohorror before. But having seen several great old B & W Italian Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren movies and having really liked them, I hoped this movie would be similar, but with more of a Horror twist to it.

Well, it turned out the gloriously-heaving buxom dark-haired lovelies I had hoped for were in this film, but unfortunately all too briefly. Instead, the film focuses on the main character of a blonde-haired vampire count, stiffly played by German actor Dieter Eppler. He barely speaks in the film, instead seeming to seek to convey some kind of "silent, hypnotic" quality of the vampire. But I found his portrayal utterly lacking in any sort of charisma or appeal. Just completely flat. No, I didn't like him at all, and found his acting quite cartoony and stereotypical.

As I say, there were a few suitably well-endowed Italian beauties who did get transformed into gorgeous creatures of the night in this film, raising my um....temperature, shall we say. But unfortunately the totally stupid script then has them dispatched with such swiftness and ease, it just had me shaking my head in utter disgust.

If you're like me, and always root for the vampires rather than those goody-twoshoes human "heroes", certain scenes in this movie are almost enough to make you throw up. I had always thought that vampires were supposed to possess senses SUPERIOR to normal humans. But funny how one of the vampire babes here cannot even hear the Dr. Van Helsing-clone "good guy" hero (think: Ricardo Montalban with a moustache) creeping just two feet behind her down an echoey underground hallway all~ the way back to her coffin. Naturally she gets dusted in one second flat -- just when I was hoping the movie was finally going to get good.

It just keeps happening over and over. Every time there's a cool new vamp I can't wait to see rip someone's throat out, instead the annoying "heroes" somehow manage to find a way to kill them off in like 1 minute flat. It really got me fed up! Then back to more scenes with "Mr. Excitement" the blonde-haired count (*yawn*), and more stereotypical scenes you've seen in tons of other vampire movies.

Dark Sky/Blue Underground's print looks great, and I understand it also includes the minutes missing from the previous DVD editions. I'm no expert on aspect ratios, so I'll let those among us more informed on such matters duke it out among themselves in other reviews.

And as is customary with Blue Underground's wonderful b-movie releases, they have also included a great bonus extra. Somehow they managed to track down the movie's obscure and long-forgotten star Dieter Eppler himself, and he gives us a lengthy interview in German with English subtitles. Although I cannot say I enjoyed his performance in the movie at all, I did find this interview quite interesting, as it really gives us insight into the nature of filmmaking in Europe at the time. Nice work, Blue Underground!

So overall would I recommend this movie? Well, what you have here is a quite tame and slow-moving B & W film filled with early-60s hairstyles and fashions (even though this is supposed to be a period piece) that never really gets going. All the cool vamps get "slaughtered" before they get a chance to make the movie more interesting, and what you are left with is a string of cliche scenes that didn't particularly appeal to me. I think many scenes in this movie did have a lot of potential to start with, but unfortunately the film's always taking the easy and predictable way out wasted it.

In fact, if anything I find this movie inspires my creative urge, as I think I'd love to try and rewrite the story someday -- my way! Prepare the "fine Corinthian leather" of your neck for a nasty surprise, Mr. Montalban look-alike! Mwa-ha-ha!!


5/5 Elegant and surprisingly good
  by Dancing Ganesha (Northern Hemisphere)
This film has a strange aura about it. Not quite a derivative "B" film, and not quite a conventional "horror," I'd definitely classify this as a true cult horror movie. I was struck by the elegance of it, and its strong resemblance to "Vampyre" -- another Germanic black and white horror known for its unconventionality. I really enjoyed watching this film, and again, I thought it was quite elegant and different from many films out there. I especially liked the beginning, where the vampire slips into the party to seduce his latest conquest. There is an air of uncanniness in such scenes that really is effective. I would also like to add that the quality of the film is so very crisp and clear, which only adds to the elegance of the film itself.

2/5 unfortunate problem release
  by Max Parkinson (Snowpile, Manitoba)
I agree with some other viewers on the aspect ratio. It's an annoying viewing experience since it's quite apparent that the top and bottom of the picture is being cut off. Numerous scenes have part of the person's head cut off, or even worse, the woman's cleavage is cut off from the bottom of the screen. The clarity is perfect, but is not enough to salvage this problematic release. Too bad, try again - perhaps.

5/5 Stop whinnig and complaining....................
  by A. Salgado (San Diego)
I found the transfer of this movie to be superb regardless of missing footage I enjoyed it very gothic and very Haunting do not listen to the previous reviews. But but by all means stay away from the retromedia copy as the transfer is hideous.................Great Horror Film Highly Recommend..........